Meta

Drawings

Well, I have been back at University now for three weeks and as usual trying to figure out in which direction my printmaking will go. I have been looking at insects and seedheads again, but finding it hard to let go of the landscapes, especially after spending last weekend at the beach! I spent most of the time painting and sketching on the beach, except of course for a little paddle with my friend Melanie. I also went into a school last week, The Thomas Clarkson Academy, to give a little talk about my work and to assist the students. Here is a link to their website and a little piece about my visit. It was a good day and I thoroughly enjoyed working with the class.

All the above, sketches executed at the Botanics Cambridge.

A dry point created on the beach this weekend, of course I forgot about the fact that when printed it is in reverse!

I can’t believe that I forgot to mention my visit last Saturday to Kettles Yard and the Fitzwilliam Museum. If you find yourself in Cambridge, be sure to visit Kettles Yard. It is such a beautiful place with so many interesting drawings and paintings. You can read about it’s origins here

What an amazing contrast these two exhibitions were. Bridget Riley’s paintings and then a few Vermeers. Both perfect in different ways. I just couldn’t get over The Lacemaker. Seeing it closeup was a privilege. You can see why his paintings stands out. The coloured threads hanging from the cushion were almost abstract in their handling. Amazing.

Below are some of my less than amazing drawings, and the drypoints I have been working on!

I am learning so much and strangely enough enjoying drawing directly onto the plate. It’s like magic when you finally get to print.

I have been taking it easy this last couple of days, getting over having my wisdom tooth pulled. What a relief to have it gone! Oh the pain! Anyway, things are much better now and I have been enjoying lazing about doing drawings, preparing for new paintings and etchings and learning my civics for my Naturalisation (I suppose I better start spelling it with a zee!!) interview on 13th July.

The lovely duck is called Ducky. Bonnie very kindly let me use her wonderful photos of Ducky to work from. I am planning on doing a larger painting of Ducky. He has so much character. Bonnie was very attached to Ducky.

Lately, I have been doing some sheep paintings, which are almost finished. One of them I am submitting to the Russian Night in Taos. When I was home last summer I found this wonderful field, high above Rutland Water. The sun was almost setting and I managed to take a lot of amazing sheep photos… I will post one.. it was a glorious English summer evening… I couldn’t believe my luck. I was on my way to see my friend Melanie, in Cambridge and got very off the beaten track and nearly ran out of petrol. I had no idea where I was or if there was a garage nearby because it was late on a Saturday evening! Thankfully there was a little village garage still open. I really must get an iphone or sat-nav (really want the iphone) when I go back to the UK so that I can keep a track of all these wonderful places that I find on my painting travels. This will be handy for when I start taking artists around the UK to paint!!